Driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs can have serious, lifelong consequences. If you have been arrested on charges of drunk driving, you might be feeling a mixture of emotions and have various worries and concerns. However, calling your Chicago criminal attorney and taking the right steps after your arrest is crucial to protecting your rights and determining the outcome of your trial.

Let’s discover 3 things you can do after a DUI arrest.

Contact a DUI Attorney

DUI laws are complex and can vary from state to state. For example, in New Jersey, an individual with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 percent or greater who operates a motor vehicle is considered to be driving under the influence. Similarly, anyone who refuses a breath test may be found guilty of ‘refusal’. For these reasons an in-depth understanding of the legal system is needed if you intend on clearing your name in court. Whether you intend on contesting your charges, or pleading guilty, a team of NJ DUI lawyers such as Simon Law Group can help you to understand what these options mean and support you with compiling a case.

Leaving your freedom to chance rarely pays off where DUIs are concerned. Courtroom matters are often best left to legal professionals and DUI cases are no exception. With the consequences of a conviction being fines, driving bans, community service, and even jail time, there is a lot on the line. Consequently, it is often in your best interests to contact a qualified attorney to try to reduce or dismiss any DUI charges through a strong defense strategy. 

Preparations

In DUI proceedings, the state will always try to build a case against you, therefore preparation is key. A DUI conviction can impact your career, your finances and your relationships, so if you want to prevent DUI charges from ruining your life, you need to begin preparing for your DUI hearing as soon as possible. Start by discussing with an attorney which plea you want to enter during arraignment. If you plead ‘guilty’ or ‘no contest’, the next step will be sentencing, whereas a ‘not guilty’ plea enables you to test the evidence and challenge the prosecution.

Once, you have established a plea, you must review the facts of your case. Write down a recollection of the events leading up to your DUI arrest so you can remember all the details and expose any potential police misconduct. If there were any passengers in your vehicle, they can provide testimony, and if you have any medical issues that could have affected the results of your blood alcohol test you will also need to provide medical documents reinforcing this to your attorney. Set any social media accounts to private and do not talk about your hearing online as doing so can damage your case. Moreover, remember to ensure you arrive to any court appearances in appropriate courtroom attire.

Focus on You

After a DUI offense you may receive a combination of consequences and penalties. Complete any community service within the time frame stipulated and do not succumb to any delays as this can make it more difficult to complete your sentence. If you are convicted of a DUI, you will be required to participate in Alcohol and Highway Safety Education at an Intoxicated Driver Resource Centre. Failure to comply with the IDRC program can be reported back to court, which can sometimes result in further license suspension and possible jail time. 

If you are allowed to keep your license after a DUI charge, you are likely to notice an increase in the cost of your car insurance. In some cases, insurers might refuse to reissue your policy. Fortunately, there are a number of insurance providers out there who specialise in helping people with DUI convictions. Additionally, the stress of a DUI case can frequently be overwhelming so take some time to focus on making sure you never make the same mistakes again. This involves accepting your faults and taking action to make sure that you do not repeat problematic behaviour or slip back into bad habits.  

Ultimately, the aftermath of a DUI arrest can be incredibly distressing. Nonetheless, enlisting the help of a DUI attorney and preparing diligently can help you to secure a more favourable outcome in court. Avoiding alcohol while driving is one of the many responsibilities of a vehicle owner. Take a look at this blog post for more rules of the road that all drivers should conform to.